Switch structure



Sept. 27, 1938.

SWITCH STRUCTURE Filed NOV. 11, 1936 FREDERICK C. BYRAM Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE Application November 11, 1936, Serial No. 110,229

1 Claim.

My invention relates to switch structures adapted particularly for snap closing or opening of electrical circuits.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved structure comprising a switch control element either manually or automatically operable, a switch actuating element, and a spring toggle link between the elements, with the operation such that during a period of movement of the control element the spring toggle is loaded for subsequent quick or snap movement thereby of the switch actuating element for operation of the switch.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a simplified structure comprising a swinging control element and a swinging switch actuating element, with a common pivot support for these elements and with a spring toggle link interposed between the elements for snap action of the switch actuating element after a period of movement of the control element.

The invention also incorporates other features of structure, arrangement and operation.

A structure embodying the various features of the invention is shown on the accompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation;

Figure 2 is an end elevation;

Figure 3 is a section on plane III-III of Figure 2, with the control element in its upper position;

Figure 4 is a section similar to Figure 3, with the control element in its lower position;

Figure 5 is a section similar to Figure 3, with the control element in neutral position; and

Figure 6 is a side elevation like Figure 1 but with the switch bulb and supporting bracket removed.

In the structure shown, a supporting base plate ll of sheet metal has its upper portion bent forwardly to form a top wall I i whose forward portion is bent downwardly to form a wall portion l2 parallel with the base plate. Extending transversely through the base plate and the front wall I2 is a pivot pin l3, and between the base plate and front wall the pin journals a hub M secured to and supporting the control element l5 shown in the form of a lever formed from a piece of sheet metal. At its outer end the lever has the laterally deflected flange It by which it may be manipulated or actuated. As shown, the body of the lever is diamond-shaped, its upper edges on opposite sides of the pivot abutting with the top wall ll so that the range of swing of the lever is limited.

The switch actuating element I1 comprises inner and outer parallel arms l8 and I9 connected together at their lower ends by a yoke 20, and the actuating element may, as shown, be formed up from a single piece of sheet metal. At their upper ends the arms receive the pivot pin 13 so that the 5 element ll is supported for swinging movement. The inner arm is adjacent to the base plate l0 and the outer arm is outside of the wall l2, and a washer 2! may be inserted between the inner arm and the base plate to reduce friction.

The lever I5 at the lower point of its body has an ear 22 extending therefrom which receives the bifurcated head 23 of the toggle link 24 for pivotal connection therewith by means of a pin. 25. The body of the link is cylindrical and has the 5 longitudinal slot 26 which receives the bar or pin El secured to and extending between the outer ends of the arms 58 and IQ of the actuating element ll. A compression spring 28 encircles the link body with one end abutting the bar 21 and the other end abutting the shoulder 29 at the base of the bifurcated head 23 of the link. 1

The inner arm it of the actuating element I1 has an opening 30 therethroughinto which projects a stop tongue 3! which may be formed by deflecting forwardly a portion of the base plate it. The engagement of the sides of the opening with the stop tongue limits the range of swing of the actuating element l1.

The extension 22 on the lever l5 and the toggle link and spring constitute a spring toggle connection between the lever and the switch actuating element for effecting quick or snap action of the actuating element when the control element or lever 15 is operated. Referring to Figures 1 and 3, where the lever I5 is in its upper position, the axis of the pivot pin 25 is to the right of the dead or neutral line between the pivot pin it and the bar 21, and the actuating element i! will be held with the right side of the opening 36 against the stop tongue 31. If the lever i5 is now swung downwardly, the actuating element It will not be moved until the pivot connection 25 between the lever and the toggle link has moved to the left beyond the dead or neutral line between the pivot pin 13 and the bar 21. During downward swing of the lever the spring is compressed and loaded, and then, after passage of the pivot 25 beyond the neutral line, the force of the loaded spring will be expended in quickly moving or snapping the actuating element ll to the right, and in quickly swinging the lever downwardly through the remainder of its downward movement, the actuating element being stopped by the engagement of the left side 55 of its opening 30 with the stop tongue 3!? and the lever beingstopped bythe engagement of the inner end thereof with the top wall I I of the supporting base. Figure 5 shows the movement of the toggle element through the neutral line, and Figure 4 shows the final position thereof, with the control lever down. If the lever is now swung upwardly, the actuating element remains at rest until the toggle link pivot 25 passes the neutral line, whereafter the actuating element I! will be quickly moved or snapped to the left, with the right side of its opening 30 against the stop tongue 3|, and the lever IE will be quickly returned to its full upper position where it will be stopped by its engagement with the top wall H. The initial movement of the control lever in either direction thus loads the toggle spring, and thereafter the actuating element and the control element are quickly snapped to their respective limits of movement.

I have shown the actuating element I! arranged to support and actuate a mercury tube switch 34. To support the mercury tube, a portion of the outer arm i9 of the actuating element may be bent forwardly to provide a shelf 32 for supporting a spring clamp 33 for the tube 34. As shown on Figure 1, the tube or bulb 34 may have circuit terminals A and B for connection by the mercury C when the control lever I5 is in its upper position for closure of the circuit of an operating element such as an electric motor. When the lever is swung downwardly and the toggle connection swings the actuating element l1 into its other position, the mercury tube is canted for disconnection of the mercury from the contacts and reopening of the circuit. The mercury bulb may have terminals D and E at its other end for closure of another circuit when the bulb is tilted, or other terminal arrangements may be provided for any desired control of one or a number of circuits. The quick or snap action of the element H and the consequent rapid tilting of the switch bulb will assure quick opening and closing of thecircuit to be controlled.

The switch structure shown comprises simple parts, mostly of sheet metal. which can be economically made and assembled. The provision of a common pivot support for the control element [5 and the actuating element I! materially simplifies the construction, and with the toggle arrangement shown there is an ample side thrust component against the actuating element to hold it in snapped position against accidental displacement.

The flange IS on the control lever l 5 facilitates manual actuation of the lever, and the flange may be slotted as indicated at 36 for engagement with suitable abutments on shift rods or wires (not shown) for transmission to the lever of the movement of control elements such as floats,'and for resultant control by the switch structure of electrical circuits of driving motors of devices Whose operation is to be regulated.

I have shown practical and efficient embodiments of the various features of my invention, but I do not desire to be limited to the exact construction, arrangement and operation shown and described, as changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

In a switch structure of the class described, a supporting frame comprising a back wall, a top wall, and a front wall depending from the top wall, a pin supported by said back wall and front wall, a hub journalled on said pin between said front and back walls, an actuating lever carried by said hub to swing on said pin, a 'U-shaped switch actuating frame having its rear leg receiving said pin between said hub and said back wall and having its front leg receiving said pin in front of the front wall, said front leg having a portion deflected laterally thereupon to form a support for a circuit controlling element, an abutment pin connecting said switch actuating frame legs near the yoke thereof, a toggle link structure comprising a link having a head pivoted to said lever and having a slot in its other end receiving said abutment pin, a spring encircling said link and abutting said abutment pin and said head, whereby swing of said lever will result in snap swing of said switch actuating frame, and circuit controlling means carried by said switch actuating frame.

FREDERICK C. BYRAM. 

